I. ˈfȯr-fət noun
Etymology: Middle English forfait, from Anglo-French, from past participle of forfaire, forsfaire to commit a crime, forfeit, from fors outside (from Latin foris ) + faire to do, from Latin facere — more at forum , do
Date: 14th century
1. : something forfeited or subject to being forfeited (as for a crime, offense, or neglect of duty) : penalty
2. : forfeiture especially of civil rights
3.
a. : something deposited (as for making a mistake in a game) and then redeemed on payment of a fine
b. plural : a game in which forfeits are exacted
II. transitive verb
Date: 14th century
1. : to lose or lose the right to especially by some error, offense, or crime
2. : to subject to confiscation as a forfeit ; also : abandon , give up
• for·feit·able -fə-tə-bəl adjective
• for·feit·er noun
III. adjective
Date: 14th century
: forfeited or subject to forfeiture